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< Back Michael G. Robinson Michael G. Robinson White Earth Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Michael G Robinson grew up in Cass Lake, Minnesota, on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. He is Anishinaabe, and an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation. Sports have always been important to Michael. In junior high school, Michael discovered boxing. By the age of 16, he won the Regional Golden Glove Championship, along with the Best Boxer award. In his teens his family moved to Tacoma, Washington and he continued fighting. He represented the Tacoma Boxing team regionally and in the Seattle Golden Gloves. Michael returned to Minnesota, boxing for Minneapolis South Central Gym and Leech Lake. In his career Michael had 152 fights. He won the Regional Golden Gloves tournament eight times, eight Minnesota State Indian Boxing Tournaments and the 1981 and 1984 National Indian Boxing Championships. Michael has been a coach, judge, and promoter of boxing. In both the amateur and professional ranks, Michael has been a positive role model for fighters throughout the Midwestern United States. Michael has always been a positive mentor, giving freely of himself, for benefit of his community. This includes his knowledge of traditional wild rice harvesting. Every fall, he freely passes on what he knows to the next generation of ricers. His devotion to Indian Country public safety paralleled his fighting career. He has been an officer in Mescalero, New Mexico, Red Lake, White Earth and finally, at home for the Leech Lake. Michael recently retired from Law Enforcement after serving for 32 years. <Back

< Back Lorianna “Lori” Piestewa Lorianna “Lori” Piestewa Diné/Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Lorianna, a graduate of Miyamura High School in New Mexico, had the remarkable record of 152-5 in high school wrestling. She started her high school career in eighth grade while still going to school at J.F.K Middle School. She was state runner-up in her eighth grade year. Then, she won state four times after that at the weight classes 100, 107, and 114 pounds. She was ranked #2 in the country her junior year of high school and took runner-up at the National Recruiting Showcase. During her senior year while being unranked she took fourth at the biggest high school wrestling tournament in the world. She then signed to Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO to achieve her Health and Fitness Promotion Degree. She had torn her MCL during the first match of the season and sat out 2/3’rds of her first season. She then came back before RMAC championships where she took first. Loriana won the Regional 8 Tournament where she qualified for National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. She took third place there finishing her freshman year with the record of 17-2. She won the U20 World Team Qualifier a month later. Lorianna competed in the U.S. Open tournament where she took fifth and qualified for the Senior World Team Competition, where she also took fifth. She is currently ranked #2 in the country for the weight class 124 pounds. Her goal is to show girls that no matter where they come from or how late they start their career, they can always achieve their goals. She wishes to make an Olympic team for wrestling and to possibly become a wrestling coach. In 2025, she was named to the U20 USA Women’s Wrestling World Team, the U20 USA National Champion, her third National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling All American, the 124 lb. regional and RMAC Champion, the Colorado Collegiate Woman Wrestler of theYear, and Academic All American. In 2024, she was named a U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals All American, Tricia Saunders Wrestling Hall of Fame State winner, Team New Mexico Wrestling Team Captain, Homecoming Queen, Wings of America Cross Country Team, New Mexico Cross Country Regional Champion and placed at the New Mexico State Cross Country Championship, and U.S. Marine Corps Academic All American. <Back

< Back Barry Powless Barry Powless Onondaga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2023 Barry Powless is from the Onondaga Nation and is Eel clan. His elders told him Deyhontsigwa’ ehs (They bump hips) is a medicine game given to the people and played for the enjoyment of the Creator. In 1975, his senior year, he was a high school All American attackman and then played at Syracuse University. He played in two World Championship tournaments; 1980 World Box Lacrosse Championships, silver medal with Can Am Warriors and 1990 World Field Championships in Perth, Australia with the Iroquois Nationals. During his summers, he played box lacrosse at the amateur and professional levels throughout his career in the US and Canada. He was the first overall pick in 1991 with a professional Canadian-US indoor lacrosse league (National Lacrosse League). He received his first pro title, Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) World Championship, when playing for the Buffalo Bandits in 1992. Barry received multiple league awards for being a High Scorer, MVP, Most Sportsman award, all-star teams, 1978 Cornwall Ontario Lions Club Player of the Year, and 1981 President’s Cup tournament MVP. He won three Canadian National Championships, one Mann Cup and two Presidents Cups. He participated in ten Canadian Championship tournaments and won six British Columbia Provincial Championships. He played senior lacrosse for four decades starting in the 1970’s and retired at age fifty. He was a head coach at the high school, senior, and professional level. He earned his second pro title in 1997 when leading the Rochester Knighthawks to the MILL World Championship and was the first Indigenous head coach to win a world title. Barry also was the VP of Lacrosse Operations for the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and currently is an executive host at Seneca Niagara Casino. Barry is honored, proud and humbled to now be inducted into seven Hall of Fames with those who also played the Creator’s game including 1999 Ontario Lacrosse, 2013 Greater Syracuse Sports, 2015 US Lacrosse Upstate NY Chapter, 2016 LaFayette Central School Sports, 2018 Akwesasne Lacrosse, 2021 Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame - Team Category, and the 2023 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. <Back

Iroquois Nationals 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back Haudenosaunee Nationals are World Silver Medalists The Haudenosaunee National Lacrosse Team, the Iroquois Nationals, were the 2011 Silver Medalist at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague, Czech Republic on May 28, 2011. This was the third consecutive indoor world tournament medal standing for the Iroquois Nationals having also achieved a Silver Medal in the 2007 games in Nova Scotia, and the 2002 games in Toronto. The Iroquois Nationals were undefeated at the end of the first round by beating Team Ireland 23-3, Czech Republic 25-5, and Team USA 11-10. Due to their outstanding record, the Haudenosaunee Team received a bye in the quarterfinals and defeated the home team, the Czech Republic 19-6 in the semi-final game. This win put the Iroquois Nationals team in the Championship game versus Team Canada. It was a hard fought game, the premier Goalie Mike Thompson was injured during the first half and the Iroquois Nationals rookie, Angus Goodleaf stepped into the goal. The final score of the World Championship Game was Canada 13 Iroquois 6. The 2011 WILC Tournament was a Win: Win for the Haudenosaunee National Team. It was less than a year ago when another indigenous squad of 23 premiere athletes stood in anticipation at an airport gate for an opportunity to participate in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship. This year was different for the Iroquois Nationals, the team boarded the airplane traveling as Haudenosaunee Diplomats, and they received a warm welcome by the host country the Czech Republic. The Iroquois Nationals showed the world a high caliber sportsmanship and completed this tournament by returning home with a Silver Medal. Oyane’! It was an extreme honor felt by all 23 elite lacrosse players to wear the Iroquois Nationals team colors for the 2011 WILC. Gewas Schindler, General Manager said, “Our players have a wealth of professional indoor and field lacrosse experiences along with numerous NCAA Collegiate Lacrosse Championships.” Each of the 23 players have worn the colors of various professional teams but define the epitome of lacrosse is to be a team member of the Iroquois Nationals. In addition to the Silver Medal the Iroquois Nationals received 4 additional individual awards, All World Team and Most Valuable Transition Player in the World –Cody Jamieson, and All World Team and Most Valuable Defensive Player in the World – Sid Smith, team captain. The 2011 Iroquois Nationals team members are: Cory Bomberry, Brett Bucktooth, Ron Cogan, Brandon Francis, Angus Goodleaf, Dean Hill, Stu Hill, Travis Hill, Blue Hill, Peter Jacobs, Cody Jamieson, Isaiah Kicknosway, Mike Lazore, Tom Montour, Jeff Powless, Andy Secore, Jeff Shattler, Sid Smith, Brandon Swamp, Mike Thompson, Holden Vyse, and Roger Vyse. The Iroquois Nationals 2011 Management includes, Head Coach Duane Jacobs, Assistant Coaches Mouse Henry and Stu Monture, General Manager Gewas Schindler, Assistant Manager Ansley Jemison and the support staff of Chester Goodleaf and Frank David. This year, each of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is represented within the 2011 Iroquois Nationals National Team and Staff. The national team also includes two members from the Ojibwa Nation. “We are proud to announce that the National Lacrosse League 2011 MVP is Jeff Shattler; a player named to the 2011 Iroquois Nationals Team,” said Dr. Percy Abrams, Executive Director. The Iroquois Nationals were pleased to be in Prague, the hosts of the third WILC. Dr. Percy Abrams said, “The Iroquois Nationals Team will take this time as an opportunity to thank the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers for their enduring support and primary sponsorship.” “We also like to thank Mr. Curt Styres, Iroquois Nationals alumni, and the Oneida Indian Nation for their sponsorship.” The Iroquois National would like to acknowledge the many volunteers from the Haudenosaunee communities who assisted the program this year. In closing the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program extends a “Niawenha” to the People of the Czech Republic for their overwhelming support for the 2011 Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team. Dane’tho. The Iroquois Nationals was established in 1983 by the Haudenosaunee Grand Council government as the National Lacrosse Team. In 1989 the Federation of International Lacrosse’s parent organization the International Federation of Lacrosse, sanctioned the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Nationals as the 5th member nation with full membership status. The Iroquois Nationals began their first FIL competition in Perth, Australia in 1990. Each year afterward the Iroquois Nationals have participated, prepared, and/or ranked as a world lacrosse competitor in the game which holds such a deep cultural significance for the Haudenosaunee.

< Back Lucas Martinez Lucas Martinez Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Lucas Martinez was a 2008 graduate of Bismarck High School (ND). In only two years of high school varsity, the team was a North Dakota state tournament runner-up in 2007 with an 18-7 record and a state champion in 2008 (23-2). In 2008 Martinez was named All-Conference, First Team All-State and was a McDonald’s All-American Nominee. Martinez accepted a scholarship to Williston State College during the 2009-10 school year. He led the Tetons to a Region 13 Championship his sophomore season. In 2010, the team lost in triple overtime on the road for a trip to Nationals. His 2010 junior college accolades included being named First Team All Conference, First team All Region, NJCAA Region 13 MVP, Second Team All-American honors for NJCAA Division l, and was nationally ranked in the top 25 in scoring. After a successful stint at Williston State, Lucas received a full ride scholarship to play NCAA Division l at the University of Wyoming from 2011-2013. He helped his team to two 20+ win seasons. His team was nationally ranked his senior year in NCAA Division l. His NCAA D1 accolades included being named the 2012 Jim Thorpe Thanksgiving Classic MVP, ranked first in made three-pointers (81) in the Mountain West Conference, ranked second in single season three-pointers made in UW history, ranked seventh in single season steals in UW history (54), and in 2013 set a school record for nine steals in a game. He was ranked in the top ten of the UW All Time career three-pointers made and was named to the Global Sports Hoops Showcase All-Tournament Team. Lucas Martinez had an amazing international professional basketball career. He has eight championships as a professional player with three MVP campaigns. Martinez played professional from 2014 to 2025 in Mexico, Venezuela. Argentina, Israel, and Brazil. His professional basketball accolades included being named Intercontinental Cup Champion (2016), LNBP Champion (2018), in 2020 the LNBP regular season MVP, LNBP Champion and LNBP Finals MVP, in 2021 the NBB Super 8 Champion, BCLA Champion, and NBB Champion, in 2022 the Intercontinental Cup Champion and Intercontinental Cup MVP and in 2025 the LNBP Value Cup Champion. Lucas Martinez jersey will be retired by Soles de Mexicali when he finishes his professional career. Photo Credit: Soles de Mexicali <Back

< Back Kayla Gardner Kayla Gardner Eagle Lake First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Kayla Gardner was a two-time girls’ hockey state champion with the Warroad Warriors, earning back to back titles in 2010 and 2011. Gardner was a contributing member of five section 8A championships. Off the ice, Gardner was a member of the National Honor Society. After graduating from Warroad High School, Gardner attended the University of North Dakota from 2013-2017, where she received a full hockey scholarship. During her time at UND, Gardner was a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2017, Gardner went on to play professional hockey with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. After a successful year with the Calgary Inferno, Gardner continued her professional hockey career in Sweden, playing with the Brynäs IF in the SDHL. <Back

< Back Donny Belcourt Donny Belcourt Chippewa Cree Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Donald “Donny” Belcourt attended high school in Billings, Montana and was part of a State Championship Cross Country team at Billings Senior High School. While in high school, Donny was also an amateur boxer and was a Montana State Golden Gloves Champion at 112 lbs. and was named Outstanding Fighter. Donny decided to focus on running and went to Haskell Indian Junior College, while under the tutelage of two legendary coaches, Coach Gerald Tuckwin and Coach Michael Daney. Donny became a three-time All American while competing in Indoor Track, 2 mile, Outdoor Track, 3000 meter Steeplechase, and Marathon, and led his team to a National Championship in the Marathon. Oklahoma State University and Coach Dick Weis gave Donny his next post-high school opportunity with a full ride track scholarship. At OSU, Donny was an All Conference and All Regional runner in Cross Country. Donny was able to really hit his stride post collegiately and in 1991 he represented the Western United States at the US Olympic Festival at 5000 meters. In 1992 he qualified for the US Olympic Trials at 1500 meters with a time of 3 minutes 41.3 seconds and 5000 meters in 13 minutes 46.2 seconds. Donny also qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials at 1500 meters. The times Donny ran at 1500 meters and 5000 meters made him one of the fastest Natives to ever race these distances. Mesa, Arizona is where he currently calls home with his wife Jo Belcourt and their children Brett and Jocelynn Belcourt. <Back

Jason Johnson <Back Onondaga Nation, Wolf Clan Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2025 Jason Johnson worked with the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Rochester Knighthawks for 11 seasons and from 2019 to present with the Halifax Thunderbirds. He served more than 12 years as Assistant Coach and then was the Director of Player Development with Halifax. In 2014, he was a member of the coaching staff that won a league-record third straight NLL Championship. Johnson was named Head Coach for the first Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box lacrosse team capturing the bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships in Utica, NY. Johnson was the General Manager for the Six Nations Arrows in the Ontario Junior “A” Lacrosse League. He was the offensive coach from 2004 to 2006, the team won three consecutive Ontario Championships and advanced to three Minto Cup Finals. He was also an assistant coach in 2009, 2010, 2022, and 2023. Johnson was an assistant coach with the Six Nations Minor in 1995 and coached for the past 30 years. In 2024 he assisted with Six Nations U11 Box team winning their first U11 Provincial “A” championship and in 2023 he was an assistant with Six Nations U9 minors winning their first U9 “A” Provincial Championship. In 2015, he won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Team Ontario at the U15 Field Nationals. As a scout for the Iroquois, they won a silver medal at the 2015 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. Johnson worked alongside his daughter Tawnie, as an assistant coach, and led the Western Mustangs women's lacrosse team to their fifth straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship. In 2014, he was a scout for the Iroquois Nationals and won a bronze medal at the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championship. In 2013, Johnson served as the head coach of the Team Iroquois Midget Box Team, and guided the 15 to 16-year-olds to a silver medal at the STX Midget Lacrosse Championship of Canada. He led the Six Nations Bantams to the gold medal at the 2012 Provincials. Johnson and 2024 NAIAHF inductee Curt Styres received Six Nations Minor Lacrosse Association Coaching Staff of the Year honors after leading the Bantams to the Provincial Championship. In 2012 Johnson worked as an assistant coach for the Iroquois Nationals at the U19 World Championships in Turku, Finland. The Iroquois won bronze and defeated Team USA in pool play to earn its first victory over the Americans in the tournament. Johnson was an assistant coach for the Hamilton Nationals for five seasons and the team advanced to three Major League Lacrosse Championships and won the 2009 title.

< Back Angel Goodrich Angel Goodrich United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Angel Goodrich was born in Glendale, Arizona, to parents Jonathan and Fayth Lewis. She has two siblings, an older brother Zach and a younger sister Nikki. She is a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Goodrich attended Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she was the first Division 1 athletic scholarship recipient in school history. During her time at the Cherokee-operated school, she led the Lady Indians to three consecutive Class AAA state titles and a runner-up finish. She scored over 2,000 points in her illustrious career. As a senior, Goodrich was named 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year in Oklahoma and received the honor of being a WBCA/State Farm All-American. After high school, Goodrich went on to play basketball at the University of Kansas. During her freshman year, Angel tore her left ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which kept her on the sidelines for the entire season. The following year she tore her right ACL after only 15 games. Despite these bumps in her basketball journey, she still scored over 1,000 points in her career as a Jayhawk, and became the Jayhawks’ all-time career assists leader. Goodrich’s total of 771 assists ranks her as the third-highest in Big 12 Conference history. In her senior year, Goodrich was a finalist for the Naismith Award, Wade Trophy, Wooden Award, Nancy Lieberman Award, and the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. She also earned First Team All Big 12 honors, and was a member of the WBCA All-Region 5 Team. In 2013, Goodrich was selected in the third round of the WNBA draft (29th pick overall) by the Tulsa Shock. At the time she was the highest-drafted Native American player in the history of the WNBA. In 2014, she completed her second and final season with the Shock. In 2015, she was picked up by the Seattle Storm. With the Storm, she registered her first double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in her WNBA career. Goodrich’s WNBA career ended in 2016. During these years, she also spent time playing overseas in both Poland and Russia. Angel currently resides in Oklahoma as a firefighter for the Tulsa Fire Department and in her spare time, officiates youth basketball games. Photo Credit: The Seattle Storm <Back

< Back Sam Horsechief Sam Horsechief Pawnee and Cherokee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Sam Horsechief is the head coach of cross-country and track at Sequoyah High School, a Native American boarding school, located in Tahlequah, OK. He started in February 1987 and has been there ever since. In his 35-year coaching career, he has coached: Eight State Team Championships (Cross Country: 6 boys, 2 girls) 12 State Team Runner Ups (Cross Country 11, Track 1) 95 All-State Athletes (Track 39, Cross Country 56) 31 Regional Championships (20 Boys and 12 Girls) 32 Cross Country Honorable Mention All-State Athletes Horsechief was recognized as the 2006 Oklahoma NFHS Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year, Oklahoma Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year in 2001, 2003, 2019 for Cross Country and again for Track in 2003. In 2019, he was inducted in the Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame. After graduating as a top running athlete from Muskogee High School, Sam Horsechief decided to continue his running career at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas then onto Central State University in Edmond, OK. He ran both track and cross-country. During his time as a collegiate athlete, he set the Haskell school record in the 800m run in 1979 with a time of 1:55.8. He also set more school records at CSU in the 1 mile run with a time of 4:19.3 in 1980 and the 800-meter with a time of 1:52.8 in 1981. In addition, he was a seven-time qualifier for the Nationals meets. In track, he qualified six times and once for the Cross Country National meet in 1980. In track, his events included the 800 meter, 1000m run, two-mile relay, distance medley relay, mile relay, and 1500 meter. He won various medals during his career. Most notable, he was a medalist in the NAIA National Indoor meet for the distance medley for placing sixth. He also earned All-American for that event, where he ran the 800m leg of that race. <Back

< Back Lauren Schad Lauren Schad Cheyenne River Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Lauren Schad is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation and raised in He Sapa (The Black Hills) located in Rapid City, South Dakota. She was recruited by the University of San Diego (USD) and in her sophomore and junior seasons, she earned a spot on the USA Collegiate National Volleyball Team roster. She also received All-American Honors. Schad ranked second best in single season hitting percentage in USD history, nationally third ranked in hitting percentage at .410 in the NCAA out of all seniors, was #1 in the WCC in hitting percentage and tenth all-time in career blocks at USD. Following graduation with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a minor in English, she was invited to be a Nike N7 Ambassador and played professionally for five seasons in the top league in France, where she and her team won silver in both the Coupe de France and the Championship of France and receiving bronze her following two seasons. She competed in the Champions League for three seasons out of five in France competing against world renowned athletes. During Lauren’s off seasons, she has remained active in her home and tribal communities organizing and hosting camps for Indigenous youth throughout the US and Canada. In 2019, the Red Ribbon Skirt Society asked her to be their first Healing the Globe Ambassador for MMIWG2S. Following her retirement from volleyball in the summer of 2022 she began her textile business, Wicahpi Rugs & Textiles, where she uses Lakota star knowledge and stories to inspire modern art. Lauren hopes through these efforts she will help to increase the visibility and opportunities for youth living in rural areas while shedding light to issues facing Indigenous communities. Action Photo Credit: Alexandrine Maguer Spilers Profile Photo Credit: Taylor Schad <Back

St. Croix Ojibwe Michael Thomas St. Croix Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Official 2022 <Back Michael Thomas is a Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) basketball official for 27 years, officiating the State Tournament for 11 years with two championship games. He started officiating basketball for all Native American basketball tournaments and quickly worked his way to MSHSL and up to the varsity level. The highlight of his career is officiating for Native youth that make it to the State Tournament. Michael has been involved in many different sports as a player himself, coach or official. Personal highlights include winning the State Championship in boxing and on to Nationals in Reno Nevada. Scoring 67 points in a single basketball game at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Coaching his grandkids and great grandkids in multiple sports, with many championship trophies to prove it. Michael served in the US Army for three years and has done honor guard at Pow Wows as a veteran. He sang on his father’s drum, Minneapolis Ojibwe, with his brothers for many years, he is an avid deer hunter and was a postal carrier for 32 years. Michel is most proud of the family he raised with his wife, Debra who he has been married to for 46 years.